Study Abroad: How to Apply and What to Expect After Graduation
She enrolled in Fashion PR programs at five US universities
Amsterdam, Netherlands · Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, or VU Amsterdam for short, is one of the largest research universities in the Netherlands. VU Amsterdam offers dozens of English-taught programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels and is geared toward international students. The university is ideal for those seeking a European education while maintaining a more reasonable budget compared to the US or UK.
Princeton University was founded in 1746 and is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the United States. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, it is a member of the Ivy League, which unites elite educational institutions. The university provides funding for undergraduate and doctoral studies, and some master’s programs are completely free.
Erasmus University Rotterdam is located in the Netherlands, in Rotterdam—Europe’s largest port and one of the region’s key economic centers. Founded in 1913, the university is now among Europe’s leading research universities.
EUR’s core competencies include economics, business, management, social sciences, medicine, and data science. The university actively participates in international research and collaborates with European institutions and major corporations.
Erasmus University Rotterdam is well suited for those considering an academic career, work in international companies, consulting, finance, analytics, and public policy.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam was founded in 1880 and today ranks among the largest academic universities in the country. The university is located in the southern part of Amsterdam and has its own campus, home to faculties, research centers, libraries, and student infrastructure.
VU positions itself as an international research university. It actively develops programs in business, economics, social sciences, psychology, data science, medicine, and STEM disciplines. Most master’s programs are taught entirely in English, making VU particularly attractive to international students.
VU Amsterdam is suitable for those focused on academic development and careers in international companies, consulting, analytics, IT, or research organizations.
VU Amsterdam actively develops international programs and partnerships. The university has students from over 100 countries, and a significant portion of its faculty have experience working outside the Netherlands.
The most popular programs at VU Amsterdam can be roughly divided into several clusters: business, economics and finance, data science and analytics, social sciences and international relations, psychology, and STEM fields, health and life sciences. These are the fields in which students most often choose VU as an alternative to more expensive English-language universities.
Amsterdam is one of Europe's largest business hubs. Google, Booking, Uber, Deloitte, Accenture, ING, ABN AMRO, and hundreds of startups have offices here. For students, this means access to internships, part-time work, and networking opportunities while still studying. It's important to keep in mind that successful employment depends not only on a degree but also on language proficiency, visa status, and the student's personal commitment.
Cost is a key consideration for most applicants. The Netherlands is considered one of the most affordable countries in Europe in terms of price-quality ratio, but studying still requires financial planning.
A student’s annual budget at VU Amsterdam consists of two main components: tuition and living expenses. Mandatory items include:
Even with a relatively moderate tuition, living expenses in Amsterdam are often the most expensive item on the budget.
Admission to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam follows a standard Dutch process, but requirements vary greatly depending on the specific program. The university doesn’t use a single “template” for all programs, so it’s always important to check the requirements on the page of your chosen course.
In general, the admissions committee evaluates not only formal criteria but also how well the candidate’s profile matches the academic and career goals of the program:
Despite relatively affordable tuition fees, funding remains a key issue for many students. VU Amsterdam offers several forms of support:
Most scholarships cover part of the tuition fees or provide a fixed amount for living expenses.
partial coverage of tuition fees or assistance with accommodation
government support for foreign students
grants for studies or internships abroad, including Erasmus+
additional funding opportunities from corporate or charitable foundations
Preparing for VU Amsterdam is not a one-time application process, but a step-by-step process:
At this stage, the foundation of the future application is formed:
The active phase begins:
Final stage:
Some programs may require an interview or portfolio, especially at the Master’s and PhD levels.
Even strong candidates are regularly rejected. The reasons are usually similar and consistent, for example:
Each of these issues can be corrected with an early start and proper support.
We assist with admission to European, American, and Asian universities using a proprietary methodology. Our experts begin working with students by assessing their profile, then develop an admissions strategy, help them select programs, strengthen their profile through projects, and help them prepare their application documents correctly.
Our work includes:
The primary focus is on building a strong, competitive image for the candidate.
She enrolled in Fashion PR programs at five US universities
She was admitted to three American universities at once: Augustana College, Widener University, and the University of South Dakota. She chose Augustana College, where she received a scholarship of $45,000 per year.
Got accepted to NYU Abu Dhabi on the first try (acceptance rate 4%) with a scholarship of $217,000. Also received offers from Lynn and Drexel University.
He entered a master’s program in the USA at two universities at once – Brandeis University and Washington University in St. Louis, receiving scholarships totaling $80,000. He chose Brandeis University and went to study on the first try.
I was accepted to the PhD program at Columbia University on my first try, having strengthened my profile and compiled my achievements into a strong application.
She enrolled in graphic design at universities in France, Italy and Hungary. She received scholarships at all of them and chose the university with the maximum funding — $135,000 for the entire period of study.
He entered Siena Heights University (USA) for the Theater and Music program with a full scholarship of $170,000. Preparation took less than a year.
She entered graduate school at Kent State University and Ohio University. At Ohio University, she won a Graduate Teaching Assistantship with full funding of $37,774, covering tuition, insurance, and living expenses.
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